Automobile lock



Feb. 16 1926.

R. R.. STABLER AUoMoBILE Loox 2 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed Dec. 25, 1919 @I wf W MH\\\ By K N70/Mfrs H w 8 mw 2 +V l N N 4,; T z a w 3 h Mw Wt H 7 Q /C ll S An 5 S TVR I .t N/ .mm 1.. Gc Mn h .illl n s 0 2 m E 0 w R LO. BLM@ AMD TMd SOR .mi HWF RAM n .1 .1 r 0 6.. 2 9 ..1 6 1|. .b. e F

Patented Feb. 16, 1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

)ROBINSON RYLAND STABLER, 0F BALTIMORE, v4IVIARYI.A.I\TD.

AUTOMQBILE LOCK.

,Application-filed December 23, 1919, 4Sierial No.,346,873. Renewed June 15, 1925.

To all 'uf/0m a may conc-ewa' Be rit known that I, ROBINSON RYLAND STABLER, aE citizenoi the United States, and a lresident `of Baltimore, ,Marylanth have invented certain new 4and useful Improvements i-netutomobile Locks, of Iwhich the following is a specilication My invention Vrelates to improvements in automobilelocks, it being .more particularly an Y improvement on` the automobile loert` disclosed in 'my co-pending applicationtiled October 13, .1919, Serial No. 330,256, and it consists in the construction, combinations :andV arrangements of `parts herein described and claimed.

The `toremost object of my invention is to provide an automobile lock constructed and arranged in such a manner that the operatorr will know lthat the locking of the car has ,not beenfcompleted .if the vengine is still running.

Another object of the invention, more specificallyY stated, is to provide an automobile lock in `which it is necessary to not only first 4rock the locking plate to lock `the .steering shaft `by turning the actuating plug which controlsitheignition circuit, but Y also -to operate the ycombination sate lock and project its bolt into `locking engagement. with the actuating plug,said sate lock controlling the generator circuit; Vit being necessary4 to perform both operations mentioned `betore the enginercan be brought to a stop, thereby indicating to .the operator that both the -steering shaft and all electric operating circuits are locked.

A :further object of the invention is to provide an automobile .flock which includes an actuating plug oruocling a lock plate into and outletlocking engagement `witlrthe steering shaft, the actuatingplug controlling the ignition circuit in such a manner that it becomes impossible to start fthe engine when the steering shaft is locked.

A further object of vthe invention is to provide an additional or safety recess in the actuating plug not quite so deep as the main bolt recess, soV that the combination lock bolt can be projected -into that sai'ety recess when `the lock plate is `moved to the open position, this however, without opening ithe generator circuit which the combi- ,natioi'r lock controls, so as to prevent the accidental movement of the actuating plug and locking ot' the steering shaft when the caris nioving at a high speed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automobile lock with means for controlling `the generator and ignition circuits, thereby dispensing with the use ot' the ignition switch ordinarily urnishedwith each automobile.

Other-objects and advantages will appear in theufollowing specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a plan view of the improved automobile lock as it appears beneath the cowl or instrument board of an automobile, diagrammatically illustrating the association ofthe ignition and generator circuits,

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the improved lock,

Figure Slis a cross section taken substantially `on theline 3-3 oi? Figure 2,

Figure t is a longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 111-4 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is `a detail perspective view of the actuating pluv.

'So it'ar as `general vconstruction is concerned, the present automobile lock is very muclrlike Athe lock disclosed in `my co-pendingapplication tiled October 13, 1919, Serial No. 330,256, but differs greatly in one respect, namely, that by the present arrangement of the contacts, both the generator and ignition circuits are controlled. The novel manner of combining these circuit controls, and the `mechanism of the automobile locl, enables the operator to positively know when his automobile is locked, because when such is the case, it is impossible for the engine to run, this being the principal indication that the automobile is locked.

A `casing 1 encloses all ofthe important mechanism of the automobile lock, including `the various circuit controlling contacts, this casing being riveted or otherwise secured at 2, through the medium oi' flanges 3, tothe under side of the cowl or instrument board Li of the automobile. This entirely closed casing prevents tampering with the lock mechanism.

The steering shaft 5 extends through `the casing and carries a sleeve 6, which is preferably brazedthereto, With teeth 7 -which are engaged by the teeth of the opening 8 in the lock plate 9, when the latter is in the uppermost or `full line position in Figure 4. `Wlien the plate is in thelowerinost or dotted line position, then the steering shaft 5 is free to be turned in any.-direction.`

lt' is necessary to properly manipulate the knob 10 of the combination safe lock 11, to

retract the bolt 12 from the main bolt recess 13 of the actuating plug 14, before the latch handle 15 of that plug can be turned in order to move the lock plate 9 down to t-lie'dotted line position in Figure 4 through the medium of the cam slot 16 in the actuating plug and the actuating stud 17 von the lock plate. It is easy to see that the turning of the actuatinO Ulu@ causes the rockindof thev r l n v n lock plate .9 on its fulcrum 13 by virtue of .the cam slot 16. lt naturally follows that when the bolt 12 is projected, as 'indicated in Figures 2 and 3, the actuating plug 14 cannot be turned and consequently, the lock .plate 9 cannot be moved to release the'teeth ing the generator circuit when' the bolt 12 is retracted by the manipulation of the knob 10, as set out above. l'

' rllhe engine ignition circuit, diagraminatically designated by the Wires 27, is coni trolled by the actuating plug 14. This plug carries an insulating segment 28 with a bridge piece 29 lto complete a circuit across the spring Contacts 30, 31 which are mounted on an insulating block 32 in vany suitable location as, for example, on the lug 433 on which the lock plate 9 is pivoted. TheV wires 27 run tothe spring contacts 30, 31.V

'A safety recess 34 in the actuating plug 1.4, enables the partial projection of the bolt 12 so as to lock the actuating plug yagainst rotation while the automobile is in operation, and'tliereby obviate the possibility of the lock vplate A9 being accidentally rocked into locking engagement with the teeth 7 of the steering shaft, while the automobile may perhaps be going at a high speed. lt is necessary to turn theknob lO only a very short distance in order to throw the bolt into the safety recess, which it is to be observed is very shallow and not sol deep as t-he main recess 13, such turningof the knob neither` destroying the combination arrived at or moving the bolt far enough to disengage the ,n bridge contact 25 from the lined generator contacts 21, 22.

A universal Joint 35 compensates for the its movements.

different axial positions of the actuating plug shaft 36 and the stub shaft 37 of the combination lock casing 24, the spindle of Vwhich extends in a direction different from that of the steering shaft. Since this diversity ofdirection is likely to occur in respect to all steering shafts and lock spindles, it is important thatV the casing be adaptable as described. The provision of thesafety recess 34, described in the preceding paragraph, is an additional and more secure safeguard against the accidental turning of the actuatingfplug, which it is recognized might happen even with the provision of the latch lever '15. n v

A guide38, consisting of a stamped depression in one extremity of the casing 1, receives .the bifurcated end 39 of theV rockable lock plate 9 so as to guide the'plate in It is also to be observed, from considering the guide 33 in Figure/4, that the casing is carried inwardly in the shape of a collar 40, ywhich substantially houses the sleeve 6 and may be considered in the nature of a supporting bearing for the toothed periphery 7, should there be any tendency at all of the steering'shaft bearing downwardly by virtue of looseness and its weight.'

The operation `should be carefully considered in order that the advantages of the invention-may be'clearly understood. Assume iirst that the steering shaft-5 is locked. The lockV plate 9 is then in `the full line position in Figure 4, the bolt 12 of tl e coinbination safe lock occupies the main recess .13 in the actuating lplug 14, and both theV generator and ignition circuits 19, 27 are broken'by virtue of the separation of the respective contacts 21, 22, 25 and-29, 30, 31.

'Desiring to unlock the steering shaft 5 and to start the automobile engine, the operator properly manipulates the knob 10 of the combination safe lock until he succeeds in withdrawing Vthe bolt 12 from the main recess 13. He withdraws the bolt to the limit, thereby engaging all generator contacts 21, 22, 25. vBut the engagement of these contacts is not sufficient-to start the engine, =norhas heyet `unlocked the steering shaft 5. Y v

Now the operatoi must turn the lever 15, and consequently theV actuating plug 14, toward the right. This makes the cain slot 16 ride down on the actuating stud 17 and in rturn move the lock .plate 9 downwardly into the'dotted line position in vFigure 4, out of engagement with the teeth 7. The steering shaft 5 is now free, and the ignition circuit is closed by reason of the en-Y I ,The engine may now be cranked up and "started, because the ignition circuit, which iti " usually runs on battery current, is closed.

The knob is slightly turned to project the bolt 12 into the shallow safety recess 34, which is now in position to receive the bolt. This prevents accidental turning of the actuating plug and `relooking ot the steeringshaft, as explained several times above.

On desiring to lock the automobile, or rather the steering shaft 5, the operator must t-urn the lever toward the lett, thereby lifting the lock plate 9. This act opens the ignition circuit, but the engine is still running Von current` from the generator 20. 1t is not suhicient vthat the lever 15 be turned as stated, and the shaft 5 locked by the consequent action of the plate 9. The engine is, still running, and this is anindication to the operator that something else must be Y done in order to completely lock the automobile.

This iinal actr consists 1n destroying the combination of the sate lock 11 by means of the knob 10. By turning the knob 10, the bolt 12 is extended in the now waiting main recessv 13, and when thus extended, the combination is destroyed as stated, and at the same time, the generator circuit 19 is opened so that no current is available for further running of the engine.

Tt follows from the above that it is impossibleto start the engine while the steerl ing shaft 5 is locked by the plate 9, or in 'other words, out oi control of the operator, because it is absolutely necessary to iirst turn the actuating plug 14 and thereby move the lock plate 9 downwardly, beore the ignition circuit is closed through the bridging orl1 the spring contacts 30, 31.

Similarly, it is impossible to stop the engine by the usual expedient of breaking or opening the engine circuit, without first locking the steering shaft by turning the lever i5 and actuating plug 14, and then finally'destroying the combination in order to open the generator circuit. Both acts must be done bet'ore the engine stops.

1n conclusion, it is to be observed that the improved automobile lock.A dispenses with the ordinary ignition switch usually furnished with every automobile. Both the ignition and generator circuits are controlled by the mechanism of the lock, and the arrangement is such that neither circuit can easily be tampered with.

l/Vhile the construction and arrangement 1 of the improved automobile lock as herein described and claimed, is that of a generally preferred term, obviously modifications and changes can be made without departing trom the spirit ot the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim 1. A lock comprising in combination, steering shaft locking means, actuating means therefor including ignition circuit makingk means `functioning when the locking means reaches an inoperative position, and locking means Yfor said actuating means, including associated generator circuit controllingmeans, the actuating means being prevented from operation while the shaft locking means is in the inoperative position.

A lock comprising steering part locking means, means for actuating said locking means, an ignition circuit controlled thereby, means i'or locking the actuating means and a generator circuit controlledzthereby.

B. EL lock comprising steering part locking means, actuating means therefor having an ignition switch, closed when the locking means is inthe unlocked position; and a combination sate or other lock for the actu ating` means having a generator circuit switch, closed when its bolt is retracted and prevented `from projection by the interposition ot said actuating means.

4. In combination with steering mecha nism, a combination-lock with a projectiblc bolt and a generator circuit switch closed when the bolt is retracted; locking means movable into and out of locking engagement with a steering mechanism part, and a manually actuated member with a connection tor thus moving the locking means, provided with an ignition switch closed when the locking means is outV of engagement with said part7 then obstructing the projection ot said bolt, but provided with a recess to re ceive the bolt and prevent accidental turning of the actuating means, the recess being shallow to avoid opening of the generator circuit.

5. The subcombination in a lock, of a lock plate actuating plug with an elongated bolt recess, and an operatively associated combination-lock casing likely to assume any of variable positions when mounted, with a bolt having an end shaped to enter the recess regardless of variations in the position of the casing.

6. The subcombination in an automobile lock, of a combination-lock bolt, a locking plate and actuating means therefor, with a main recess receiving the bolt i'or permanently locking said means, and a shallow recess i'or receiving said bolt to prevent accidental movement when the locking plate is in the unlocked position.

7. In a lock a steering mechanism part locking member, means in operative connection by which it is actuated to lock and unlock, an ignition switch embodied in the actuating means, open when said member is locked but closed when unlocked; and a combination-lock with a bolt projectible to lock said actuating means, having an assollt) ciated generator circuit switch open When the 'bolt is projected but closed When Aretracted, the operation of both the Vactuating means and rcombination-loclr being a prerequisite to the absolute locking of an automobile.

8. A lock comprising a suitably encased and mounted lock plate operatively associatedivith a part of the steering mechanism, revoluble means including anactuating plug with a bolt recess andcam slot, means ycarried by the plate engaging the slot, means for revolving the plug, a coinbination-loclr with a bolt to enter the recess and lock the plug` when the lock plate engages a steering mechanism part, andignition and generator circuit switches respectively embodied in the actuating plug and combination-lock mechanisms, both open when the lock plate is'in the position aforesaid. l

i 9. 'The subcombination in an automobile locln'oic generator andignition circuits insulated from each other and from the lock, et a combination-lock bolt With an insulated bridge contact, lateral insulated generator" circuit rcontacts at which the generator circuit terminates, an actuating plug' With a recess adapted to be occupied by the bolt when projected, an insulated bridge piece carried by the plug, and associated contacts at which the ignition circuit terminates, engagcable by the bridge piece when the cornbination-lock is manipulated to Withdraw the'bolt and permit movement of saidfplug.

l0. The subcombination in an automobile lock, ot a lock plate, a combination-lock bolt with an insulated bridge contact, insulated generator circuit contacts engageable by the bridge Contact When the bolt is retracted, an actuating plug partially revoluble to unlock said lock plate, said plug` having a recess then in position to receive the bolt and prevent accidental turning of the }lug,said recess being shallow to avoid disengagement of said Contact and the destruction ot the combination by the partial operation of the lock to'thus project the bolt.

'ROBNSON RYLAND STABLER. 

